Editing Mike McCarthy (section)

===Dallas Cowboys===

==== 2020 ====
McCarthy interviewed for the vacant head coach position to replace [[Jason Garrett]], which took place over 12 hours, with Cowboys owner [[Jerry Jones]], executive vice president Stephen Jones, and chief sales and marketing officer Jerry Jones Jr. The other person to interview for the position was [[Marvin Lewis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marvin Lewis fine with interview process for Cowboys job | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28446280/marvin-lewis-fine-interview-process-cowboys-job |publisher=ESPN |date=January 8, 2020 |access-date=February 2, 2025}}</ref>

On January 7, 2020, McCarthy was announced as the Cowboys' new head coach.<ref>{{Cite web |title=McCarthy Won The Job In 12-Hour Interview |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mccarthy-won-the-job-in-12-hour-interview |access-date=June 25, 2021 |website=www.dallascowboys.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Rob |date=January 7, 2020 |title=Mike McCarthy Officially Hired As Head Coach |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/mike-mccarthy-officially-hired-as-head-coach |access-date=January 7, 2020 |website=dallascowboys.com}}</ref><ref name="USA">{{Cite news |last=Middlehurst-Schwartz |first=Michael |date=January 6, 2020 |title=Dallas Cowboys agree to hire Mike McCarthy as new coach |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2020/01/06/dallas-cowboys-hire-mike-mccarthy-coach-jason-garrett-replacement/2823446001/ |access-date=January 6, 2020}}</ref><ref name=":10" /> McCarthy, who spent his season off watching game film and learning about analytics with fellow coaches, told Jones during the interview that he watched every play of the 2019 season. During his introductory press conference to announce his hiring, McCarthy said: “I need to confess: I told Jerry I watched every play of the 2019 season. I wanted the job. You do what you gotta do, right?”<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jori |title='I wanted the job': Mike McCarthy confesses he fibbed in Dallas Cowboys interview with Jerry Jones |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2020/01/08/dallas-cowboys-mike-mccarthy-fibbed-interview-jerry-jones/2852156001/ |access-date=February 6, 2021 |work=USA Today}}</ref>

McCarthy was the Cowboys' ninth head coach since the organization was founded in 1960. On September 13, 2020, McCarthy lost his Cowboys head coaching debut against the [[2020 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]] on the road by a score of 20–17.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jori |date=September 13, 2020 |title=Cowboys stumble in Mike McCarthy's debut, fall to Rams in SoFi Stadium opener |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2020/09/13/dallas-cowboys-los-angeles-rams-score/5789828002/ |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=www.usatoday.com}}</ref> In the next game, McCarthy received his first win as the Cowboys' head coach in a narrow 40–39 comeback victory over the [[2020 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=September 20, 2020 |title=Mike McCarthy's first win with Dallas Cowboys a comeback for the ages |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29931601/mike-mccarthy-first-win-dallas-cowboys-comeback-ages |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

McCarthy was challenged by the heavy restrictions imposed in the league due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in terms of physical contact with the players, their availability due to a positive test for the virus or having been exposed to someone who had it, a reduced [[training camp (NFL)|training camp]] schedule and the cancellation of the preseason games, which complicated the implementation of the new offensive and defensive schemes. Aggravating the situation was the poor showing of most of the team's free agent signings.

The Cowboys finished the season with a 6–10 record, placing third in the NFC East.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Dallas Cowboys Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2020.htm |access-date=June 25, 2021 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> After losing starting quarterback [[Dak Prescott]] to a dislocated ankle in a Week 5 37–34 victory over the [[2020 New York Giants season|New York Giants]], the Cowboys still remained in playoff contention in a weak division and with [[Andy Dalton]] as the starter at quarterback for most of the season. However, the team struggled defensively, allowing 473 points, which was the Cowboys' worst-ever defensive showing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Whitt |first=Richie |title=McCarthy's Cowboys Season In Review: Top (Bottom?) 10 Lowlights |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/mccarthy-dallas-cowboys-2020-nfl-season-in-review-top-bottom-10-lowlights |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=FanNation Dallas Cowboys News, Analysis and More |date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> After the season, the Cowboys fired defensive coordinator [[Mike Nolan]] and defensive line coach [[Jim Tomsula]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Dallas Cowboys fire defensive coordinator Mike Nolan |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30675381/dallas-cowboys-fire-defensive-coordinator-mike-nolan-source-says |access-date=June 25, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

==== 2021 ====
[[File:Mike Mccarthy 2021 (cropped).jpg|thumb|McCarthy in 2021]]
McCarthy was fined $50,000 by the NFL on July 1, 2021, for violating practice rules during organized team activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wagoner |first1=Nick |last2=Archer |first2=Todd |last3=DiRocco |first3=Michael |date=July 1, 2021 |title=NFL fines San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys for OTA violations |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31745995/nfl-fines-san-francisco-49ers-jacksonville-jaguars-dallas-cowboys-ota-violations |access-date=July 7, 2021 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> As a result of the fine, McCarthy said in a statement the majority of the seven to nine plays the NFL discussed with him involved younger players.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Crabtree|first=Curtis|date=July 22, 2021|title=Mike McCarthy says Cowboys trying to do things right way after practice penalties|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/07/22/mike-mccarthy-says-cowboys-trying-to-do-things-right-way-after-practice-penalties/|access-date=September 16, 2021|work=ProFootballTalk}}</ref>

From July through September 2021, McCarthy and the Cowboys were featured on the HBO sports documentary ''[[Hard Knocks (documentary series)|Hard Knocks]]''. The experience, which McCarthy called “a good one,” involved a large camera crew filming the entirety of Cowboys training camp.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Todd |date=September 3, 2021 |title=McCarthy eager to 'be more genuine' leading up to Cowboys' opener with 'Hard Knocks' crew gone |url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/03/mike-mccarthy-eager-to-be-more-genuine-leading-up-to-cowboys-opener-with-hard-knocks-crew-gone/ |access-date=September 16, 2021 |work=Cowboys Wire |publisher=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 4, 2021|title=Alone again: Mike McCarthy finds silver lining in end of Cowboys' 'Hard Knocks' experience|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2021/09/03/alone-again-mike-mccarthy-finds-silver-lining-in-end-of-cowboys-hard-knocks-experience/|access-date=September 16, 2021|work=Dallas News}}</ref>

For the [[2021 Dallas Cowboys season|2021 season]], McCarthy guided the team to a 12–5 record and an NFC East division title, including sweeping the entire [[NFC East]] for the first time since 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 11, 2022|title=Cowboys' Stephen Jones: Sweeping NFC East was 'first box to check'|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nfl/cowboys/dallas-cowboys-stephen-jones-sweeping-nfc-east-was-first-box-to-check/287-a5048d01-2ecf-4751-93a5-93e2c079edcd|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=wfaa.com}}</ref> After a Week 9 30–16 loss to the [[2021 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]], McCarthy displayed a can of Anti-Monkey Butt powder in a presentation to the team. He informed the Cowboys that although the prior week's loss had been a "Red Ass Week," McCarthy was confident his team would stage a comeback.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ochoa |first=R. J. |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Mike McCarthy used "Monkey Butt" to motivate the Dallas Cowboys towards victory over the Falcons |url=https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2021/11/15/22783833/mike-mccarthy-used-monkey-butt-to-motivate-the-dallas-cowboys-towards-victory-over-the-falcons |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=Blogging The Boys}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Epstein |first=Jori |title=Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy reveals unusual motivation tactic for rout of Atlanta Falcons |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2021/11/15/mike-mccarthy-uses-monkey-butt-motivate-dallas-cowboys/8634124002/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=USA TODAY}}</ref> McCarthy missed the Week 13 27–17 road victory over the [[2021 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] after testing positive for [[COVID-19]] and was placed in COVID protocols for 10 days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2021 |title=Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy returning to work after 10-day COVID-19 protocols |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32822192/dallas-cowboys-coach-mike-mccarthy-returning-work-10-day-covid-19-protocols |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Cowboys were upset at home 23–17 by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] in the [[2021–22 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] in the wild-card round. The game ended with the clock running out on the Cowboys following a [[Draw play|quarterback draw]] as they attempted to spike the ball to stop the clock to permit a final pass play.

McCarthy was particularly criticized for his decision to use a quarterback draw with 14 seconds left in the fourth quarter, instead of going for two or more passes from further out.<ref>{{Cite web|title=McCarthy explains what happened on Dak's game-ending scramble|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/cowboys-mike-mccarthy-explains-dak-prescotts-strange-late-scramble-vs-49ers|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=RSN|date=January 17, 2022}}</ref> McCarthy defended his decision, explaining that he was hoping to get another, easier play in after coming closer to the end zone and that he thought that 14 seconds was sufficient to allow his team to do this.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/33083093/had-problem-getting-ball-spotted|title = Dallas Cowboys' Mike McCarthy defends QB draw play: 'Shouldn't have had problem getting ball spotted'|date = January 17, 2022}}</ref>

==== 2022 ====
Before the 2022 season, McCarthy was fined $100,000 by the NFL for violating offseason practice rules.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Mike McCarthy fined $100,000, Dallas Cowboys docked 2023 OTA for violating practice rules |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34103916/mike-mccarthy-fined-100000-dallas-cowboys-docked-2023-ota-violating-practice-rules |access-date=March 23, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> McCarthy canceled a preseason practice instead holding a team bonding golf event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barash |first=Lauren |date=June 16, 2022 |title=Mike McCarthy cancels camp and sends Cowboys golfing for team bonding |url=https://thelandryhat.com/2022/06/16/cowboys-mike-mccarthy-cancels-camp-golfing-bonding/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=The Landry Hat}}</ref>

For the [[2022 Dallas Cowboys season|2022 season]], McCarthy led the Cowboys to a 12–5 record, tying the 2021 season record and placing second in the NFC East.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys 2022 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/dal/2022/gamelog/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dallas Cowboys Division Standings - NFL |url=https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys-team-standings |access-date=March 16, 2023 |work=FOX Sports}}</ref> During the 19–3 season-opening loss to the [[2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], quarterback [[Dak Prescott]] suffered a thumb fracture that required surgery and absence from the team until Week 7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cowboys lean on defense in Prescott's return, top Lions 24-6 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401437795 |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite magazine |last=Coleman |first=Madeline |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Cowboys' Mike McCarthy Provides Update on Dak Prescott's Progress |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2022/10/12/cowboys-mike-mccarthy-provides-update-on-dak-prescott-progress |access-date=March 16, 2023}}</ref> McCarthy replaced him with backup quarterback [[Cooper Rush]] who went 4–1 over the next five games.<ref name=":16" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cowboys move to 4-1 with Cooper Rush as defense suffocates Rams on road |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-move-to-4-1-with-cooper-rush-as-defense-suffocates-rams-on-road-233205090.html |access-date=March 16, 2023 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=October 9, 2022}}</ref> McCarthy dealt with other injuries from key players including safety Jayron Kearse and left tackle Tyron Smith.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2022 |title=Is hot seat fair to Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy as key injuries continue to mount? |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4775443/is-hot-seat-fair-to-dallas-cowboys-coach-mike-mccarthy-as-key-injuries-continue-to-mount |access-date=March 23, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Before a Week 9 game against the Packers, McCarthy got emotional about a return to Green Bay. He also said he was looking forward to seeing Aaron Rodgers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike McCarthy laughs, wells up about return to Green Bay: 'This is bulls***' |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-mc-carthy-dallas-cowboys-coach-return-to-green-bay-packers-001210225.html |access-date=March 23, 2023 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=November 8, 2022}}</ref> 

McCarthy led the Cowboys to a 31–14 road victory in the Wild Card Round against the Buccaneers, which was [[Tom Brady]]'s last game of his career and the club's first road playoff victory in over 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 17, 2023 |title=Mike McCarthy dancing with victory chain is must-see for Cowboys fans |url=https://thelandryhat.com/2023/01/17/mike-mccarthy-dancing-victory-chain-must-see-cowboys-fans-video/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |work=The Landry Hat}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Emily |date=February 1, 2023 |title=Tom Brady announces retirement -- again |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/tom-brady-announces-retirement/story?id=96815178 |access-date=March 16, 2023 |work=ABC News}}</ref> Playing against the [[2022 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] on the road, the Cowboys lost for the second year in a row to their longtime rival by a score of 19–12 and extended the franchise's streak to seven straight defeats in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Felt |first=Hunter |date=January 23, 2023 |title=The Dallas Cowboys keep rewriting the book of playoff incompetence |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/23/dallas-cowboys-playoff-loss-san-francisco-49ers-nfl-football |access-date=March 16, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==== 2023 ====
In January 2023, McCarthy announced that the Cowboys would be parting ways with offensive coordinator [[Kellen Moore]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archer |first=Todd |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Kellen Moore won't return as Cowboys offensive coordinator |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35554764/kellen-moore-cowboys-offensive-coordinator-sources-say |access-date=March 16, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He also parted ways with six other coaches.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hill Jr. |first=Clarence E. |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Dallas Cowboys making changes: Mike McCarthy declines to renew contracts of 6 coaches |work=Fort Worth Star Telegram |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article271664872.html |access-date=March 16, 2023}}</ref> In February 2023, team owner Jerry Jones stated that McCarthy would call plays during the following season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jerry Jones confirms Mike McCarthy will call Cowboys plays in 2023 |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/jerry-jones-confirms-mike-mccarthy-will-call-cowboys-plays-in-2023-210202934.html |access-date=March 16, 2023 |work=Yahoo Sports |date=February 2023}}</ref> McCarthy new hires included offensive coordinator [[Brian Schottenheimer]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henderson |first=Cydney |title=Cowboys hire Brian Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator, but Mike McCarthy will call plays |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/cowboys/2023/02/04/cowboys-brian-schottenheimer-offensive-coordinator-mike-mccarthy-call-plays/11187991002/ |access-date=March 16, 2023 |work=USA TODAY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hamm |first=Timm |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Cowboys Hire 2 New Coaches to Help Mike McCarthy Offense |work=Sports Illustrates - Fan Nation |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-hire-ramon-chinyoung-assistant-offensive-line-coach |access-date=March 16, 2023}}</ref>

The Cowboys overpowered opposing teams with its offense, boasting a top-five rank in total yards and scoring. Prescott flourished and CeeDee Lamb emerged as one of the league's best wide receivers. The Cowboys were ranked second heading to the NFC playoffs and faced McCarthy's old team the [[Green Bay Packers]] at home, but the wild-card matchup against the youngest team in the league ended in embarrassment. Dallas experienced a 27-0 deficit before halftime, before losing in a 48-32 blowout. The result brought forth questions about McCarthy's job security, that forced Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to release a statement confirming that he would retain McCarthy as head coach, saying the team is "very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Archer |first=Tom|date=January 17, 2024 |title=Dallas Cowboys to retain Mike McCarthy as head coach |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39331813/sources-cowboys-retain-mike-mccarthy-head-coach |access-date=March 16, 2024}}</ref> The Cowboys also became the first team in the Super Bowl era to win 12 games in three straight seasons but not be able to reach a conference title game in that stretch.

==== 2024 ====
McCarthy's return set up a difficult dynamic, where he and his entire coaching staff entered the last year of their contracts, without the possibility of an extension. He also was forced to replace defensive coordinator [[Dan Quinn (American football)|Dan Quinn]] who took the head coach position with the [[Washington Commanders]] with [[Mike Zimmer]]. The team lost depth and didn't have any important signing in free agency, ending with a roster that wasn't set up to succeed, even though Jones used the term "all-in" to describe the Cowboys' approach in 2024.

The team won their season opener against the [[Cleveland Browns]] by a score of 33–17. This win would be seemingly in vain, as they lost three of their next five matchups. These included a 44–19 blowout loss in week 2 to the [[New Orleans Saints]], as well as a 47–9 blowout loss to the [[Detroit Lions]] in week 6. After the bye, they would not bounce back, losing four straight. Even worse, in week 9, starting quarterback [[Dak Prescott]] tore his hamstring. Playing backups [[Cooper Rush]] and [[Trey Lance]], the Cowboys finished 7–10.<ref name="c594">{{cite web | last=Podell | first=Garrett |date=January 18, 2024 | title=Cowboys retaining Mike McCarthy for 2024: Jerry Jones believes team 'very close to achieving ultimate goals' | website=CBSSports.com | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-retaining-mike-mccarthy-for-2024-jerry-jones-believes-team-very-close-to-achieving-ultimate-goals/ | access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cowboys-qb-dak-prescott-to-undergo-season-ending-surgery-on-injured-hamstring |first=Kevin |last=Patra |title=Cowboys QB Dak Prescott to undergo season-ending surgery on injured hamstring |date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |website=[[National Football League]]}}</ref> After the season concluded, it was announced on January 13, 2025, that McCarthy would no longer be the head coach of the Cowboys.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yarrish|first=Tommy|title=Cowboys to move on from Mike McCarthy|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-to-move-on-from-mike-mccarthy|website=dallascowboys.com|date=January 13, 2025|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>